Getting connected may take longer than expected

More and more Australians are connecting to a service over the nbn™ broadband access network. Due primarily to a recent increase in the number of orders being received it may take longer than usual to be connected, regardless of the phone or internet provider that you choose.

We have been working closely with your body corporate or building manager, but at this stage we’re not able to connect your building to the nbn™ broadband access network.

You can also contact your body corporate or building manager for further information.

Technology used in your connection

Planned technology

nbn™ Sky Muster™

Disconnection information

Premises connected to the nbn™ broadband access network via Fixed Wireless won't be disconnected from their existing phone and internet services by nbn.

If you want to keep your existing copper phone line active when you order a service over the nbn™ Fixed Wireless access network, you should speak to your phone and internet provider at the time you place your order.

Next steps

Activate your connection

The next step is to contact a phone or internet provider and order an nbn™ powered plan.

Prepare your experience at home

Disconnection information

Premises connected to the nbn™ broadband access network via Fixed Wireless won't be disconnected from their existing phone and internet services by nbn.

If you want to keep your existing copper phone line active when you order a service over the nbn™ Fixed Wireless access network, you should speak to your phone and internet provider at the time you place your order.

Next steps

Construction of the nbn™ broadband access network has started in your area

nbn’s New Developments team are continuing to work with the developer to roll out the nbn™ broadband access network at your location.

If you’re preparing to move in, please contact the developer for more information.

If you are the developer of this property, please speak to your nbn New Developments representative or contact us at newdevelopments@nbnco.com.au.

Prepare your experience at home

Make the most of your internet connection with these set-up tips for your home or apartment.

Prepare your experience at home

Disconnection information

Premises connected to the nbn™ broadband access network via Fixed Wireless won't be disconnected from their existing phone and internet services by nbn.

If you want to keep your existing copper phone line active when you order a service over the nbn™ Fixed Wireless access network, you should speak to your phone and internet provider at the time you place your order.

Next steps

You're ready to connect

The next step is to contact a phone or internet provider and order an nbn™ powered plan.

Prepare your experience at home

Disconnection information

Premises connected to the nbn™ broadband access network via Fixed Wireless won't be disconnected from their existing phone and internet services by nbn.

If you want to keep your existing copper phone line active when you order a service over the nbn™ Fixed Wireless access network, you should speak to your phone and internet provider at the time you place your order.

Address status

Next steps

Register for alerts

We will let you know when your premises is ready to connect to the nbn™ access network.

Two sides to every story

Late Friday afternoon we were approached by a journalist seeking a response to what he claimed were the "confidential results of a pilot study" undertaken by NBN Co in an area containing 2484 homes and businesses in Melton in Victoria.

This 'study', the reporter informed us, purported to show that the old all-fibre NBN could be rolled out in its entirety much sooner and far less expensively than had previously been envisaged. The implication of all this was that, if this study was true, then it was unnecessary to have to transition the NBN to the multi-technology mix.

The efficiencies that our construction crews had applied to construction in Melton - such as smaller diameter cables and smaller multiports (or splitters) - are already being employed in the NBN build across Australia. This is what happens as we refine our processes and find improvements.

What's more, the area of rollout in Melton had some unique characteristics that inevitably would have brought down the cost of the build there relative to the project as a whole. For instance, it's well known that it is costly and time consuming to deliver the fibre NBN to office blocks and apartments. Entire buildings have to be rewired. Yet in this particular part of Melton there are fewer than 25 tall buildings (or "multi dwelling units" in NBN jargon).

Further, our construction crews tell us there have been rollouts elsewhere in Victoria which cost less per premises and which have suffered fewer defects and had fewer design variations.

So the claims being made in the Fairfax report – and extrapolated out to the entire NBN project – are based on work in a single area that is atypical and which is employing construction methods that are not unique, they are already widely in use. It also required more oversight and more resources than usual to make it a "success".

Astonishingly none of these rather salient facts made it in to the final article, which is not only inaccurate, it ignores the central purpose of the NBN.

While there will always be people who prefer technology-specific solutions, our job is to deliver affordable, fast broadband to as many Australians as we can as soon as possible. They don't want us spending more of their money than is necessary if it can be avoided.

The Government has given us the flexibility to use whatever approach will help us deliver on what is the right of every Australian regardless of location or financial status.

There is no question fibre remains an important part of the multi-technology mix. This hasn't changed. The current model is not about a singular technology, rather is about doing whatever it takes to get the NBN to you as quickly as possible with the least cost and the least disruption while meeting your technology needs.

We will continue to ramp up our efforts to deliver Australia's largest infrastructure project as quickly and efficiently as we can. And like any sensible business, we will continue to review our processes and apply best practice where we can. That's just common sense. It is something every taxpayer should expect of a project for which they are paying.

Of greater importance than any imagined review is that NBN Co, as set out in the Strategic Review, has an obligation to continue to identify efficiencies across all technology applications in order to meet our 2020 commitments within the agreed $29.5 billion funding envelope - reviewing and constantly refining our approach means we have the confidence we can do this. We will and must continue to find efficiencies be it for fibre-to-the-home, to-the-node, HFC or otherwise.

The absence of continual business reviews to drive efficiencies should call for headlines, rather than the implementation of such.

As with all things our job is only made harder when the media does not report accurately.